Give Nature a Go
Dorset ICS nature-based staff wellbeing offer, in collaboration with Health and Nature Dorset (HAND)
Dorset has amazing greenspaces, from nature reserves to country parks and urban meadows to the rivers and coast. Spending time in nature can help you stay physically active, reduce your blood pressure, boost your mood, and increase your Vitamin D levels.
With support from Our Dorset’s enhanced staff wellbeing service (Here For Each Other), Health and Nature Dorset (HAND) has launched Give Nature a Go, a nature-based staff wellbeing programme for staff and teams working in health and care across Dorset. HAND is a collaboration of health and environmental sector organisations working together to promote the benefits and coordinate the opportunities for nature-based wellbeing across Dorset (covering Dorset and BCP council areas).
An exciting programme of nature-based activities has been designed for individuals and teams, touching on all five ways to wellbeing to relieve the pressures from work and help you relax, recharge and reconnect. Most of the sessions will focus on the five ways to wellbeing in some way to demonstrate how connecting with nature can support your wellbeing, while on the activity but also beyond.
- Be physically active
- Connect with other people
- Learn new skills
- Pay attention to the present moment (mindfulness)
- Give to others
Read blog: 120 minutes in nature a week may be the ‘threshold’ for health and wellbeing
Activities are ongoing, including:
- Wellbeing Walks
- Yoga in the Park
- Forest Bathing
- History Walks
- Practical Conservation Work
- Garden Tours
- Nature and Mindfulness
- Art in Nature
- Wild Writing
- Lots more!
Activities will be run across the county, and we are investigating offering activities on different days and times to suit everyone’s work patterns. Currently, activities are being planned at the following locations:
- Durlston County Park, Swanage
- Thorncombe Woods, Dorchester
- Upton County Park, Poole
- Wild Woodbury, Bere Regis
- Arne Nature Reserve, near Wareham
- Kingcombe Visitor Centre, Toller Porcorum
More locations will follow, including Bournemouth, North Dorset, and East Dorset.
Please Note: Staff are welcome to attend these activities during work hours as approved by their managers. Managers are also encouraged to prioritise the wellbeing of staff by supporting them to attend.
Click on the links below to register
Wellbeing Walks
Kingcombe Visitor Centre, Kingcombe
- Wednesday, 28 June (14:00 – 15:30) Give Nature a Go: Wellbeing Walk – Kingcombe
- Wednesday, 5 July (10:30 – 12:00) Give Nature a Go: Wellbeing Walk – Kingcombe
Thorncombe Woods, Dorchester
- Wednesday, 14 June (10:30 – 12:00) Give Nature a Go: Wellbeing Walk – Thorncombe Wood
- Thursday, 22 June (9:30 – 11:00) Give Nature a Go: Wellbeing Walk – Thorncombe Wood
- Thursday, 13 July (9:30 – 11:00) Give Nature a Go: Wellbeing Walk – Thorncombe Wood
Upton Country Park
- Thursday 29 June (14:00 – 16:00) Give Nature a Go: Wellbeing Walk – Upton Country Park
- Thursday 27 July (14:00 – 16:00) Give Nature a Go: Wellbeing Walk – Upton Country Park
Wild Woodbury
- Thursday 15 June (10:00 – 12:00) Give Nature a Go: Wellbeing Walk – Wild Woodbury
- Thursday 13 July (10:00 – 12:00) Give Nature a Go: Wellbeing Walk – Wild Woodbury
Other Activities
Ancient Trails Pony Handling
The Ancient Trails Company, Dorchester
- Saturday, 29 July 2023, (10:00 – 13:00) Give Nature a Go: Ancient Trails Pony Handling – The Ancient Trails Company, Dorchester
Forest Bathing
Thornecombe
- Wednesday, 14 June 2023 (10:30 – 12:00) – Give Nature a Go: Forest Bathing - Thorncombe Wood
Yoga in the Park
Borough Gardens, Dorchester
- Tuesday 20 June 2023 (12:30 – 13:30) Give Nature a Go: Yoga in the Park – Borough Gardens
- Tuesday 27 June 2023 (12:30 – 13:30) Give Nature a Go: Yoga in the Park – Borough Gardens
- Tuesday 4 July 2023 (12:30 – 13:30) Give Nature a Go: Yoga in the Park – Borough Gardens
- Tuesday 11 July 2023 (12:30 – 13:30) Give Nature a Go: Yoga in the Park – Borough Gardens
- Tuesday 18 July 2023 (12:30 – 13:30) Give Nature a Go: Yoga in the Park – Borough Gardens
- Tuesday 25 July 2023 (12:30 – 13:30) Give Nature a Go: Yoga in the Park – Borough Gardens
Where possible, parking and entry fees will be included as part of the activity. However, if an event is held within an urban area and public car parks are needed, staff will need to cover the costs. This will be set out in the individual activity details. Where possible, we encourage people to use public transport or car share, but we appreciate that this may not always be possible.
Activities will need a minimum number to go ahead to ensure value for money, and events will be cancelled in extreme weather. Anyone who is booked to attend will be notified as soon as possible. Activities have been scheduled on different dates and at different locations across the county to enable staff and teams to choose the ones they find most beneficial and feasible to attend based on their schedule.
We will be asking all attendees to complete a feedback form, and there will be some follow-ups in the months to come to help evaluate the programme.
So why not give nature a go?!
If you have any general queries, please contact hand@dorsetlnp.org.uk.
